Loose-leaf binder



Jan. 8, 1924. 1,479,817

J. KAHN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May 25, 1922 To all whom/it may concern:

Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

UNITED T -res PATENT OFFICE.

aosnrn mum, or cmoaeo. rumors.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed May 25, 1922. Serial No. 563,512.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KAHN, a citizen of the United'States, and a resident'of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State" of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf binders, and more particularly to binders characterized by the use of hook-like fastening members mounted on one of the binder .covers and enga ing the adjacent ends of binding posts binder covers.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and useful binder, including'in its construction-a simple, substantial, and positive locking mechanism, hereinabove reing mechanism, as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the locking parts in locked position, as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a key used .in conjunction with the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1, a s

Fig. 5 is 'a view in perspective, showin a modified form of opening mechanism, an

Fig. 6 is a view in perspectivev of another modified form of operating mechanism,

A loose-leaf binder, in the typical form, consists of cover members 1 and 2 joined together by a back portion or section 3 to which the cover members are hinged in the manner long practiced in the art of book-making.

Between the cover members are held the binder sheets or leaves 51:, to, any thickness not to exceed thewidth between covers, said leaves being held in place by means of transverse binding posts- 5, 5, extending between ed to the other" covers and located near the back section 3. Holes punched in the marginal portion of the leaves are engaged by the posts.

.In the binder, herein illustrated, the cover members are stifl', being made of one or more plies of card board covered with leather or other binding material. The book section 3 is also stifl', although it may be relatively flexible or limp, if so desired. As shown in Fig. 2, the posts 5, 5 are cylindric rods fixed or anchored in a stiff rail 6, extending transversely of the bottom cover 2, parallel with and adjacent to the flexible hinge formin connection between the cover 2 and bac section 3. The rail 6 is preferably embedded or inlaid in the body of the cover. In the free ends of the posts are formed eyes 5" extending diametrically therethrough in alinement with each other.

Along the inner edge of the top cover 1 and ad acent to the connecting hinge is a shallow metallic) casing ,7 which encloses and supports the locking members and operating parts, the former being movable" into and out of engagement with the eyes 5 of the parts 5. The casing 7 is preferably constructed in a flanged cover plate Qsecured to said bearagainst the caring plate, 5 spacing them apart and forming a shallow chamber therebetween. Along the inner edge of thebearthe posts 5, 5, and permit locking action between the eyes 5", 5 and the locking hooks,'hereinafter to be described. Along the opposite side of-the casing the bearing two parts, namely, a fiat bearing plate 8, and

ing plate by suitable fastening means. The

marginal flanges 9 of the cover plate abut plate 8 is extended beyond the cover plate,

forming a flange 11 which extends between the layers of card board forming the cover 1, the outermost" layer extending the r'ull width of the casing and the innermost"layer terminating in abutting engagement a ainst the edge of the cover plate 9, as c early shown in Fig. 2. Several rivets 12, 12 are passed through the flange 11 and the outermost layer of card board, thus firmly anchoring the casing 7 in place. In construct ing the binder the casing is embedded in the cover so that the inner surfacesof both are flush, the casing being covered over by the 13 extending substantially in line with the tubular flange 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The movement of the fastening members imparted by actuatin I parts engaging the rounded head 13' at t e inner end of each, carries the outer hooked portion across the notches 10 into the tubular flange located adjacent each fastening member, the extremity being inserted and withdrawn from the opening in the tubular flange. n the oppo-' site side of the notch'the tubular flange is slotted lengthwise as at 10, thereby providing a supporting slot in which the ll-shapedportion of the hooked end travels.

The relation of the I fastening members and the posts is such that the movement of the former acts to engage and disengage the eyes 5 at the free ends of the latter when the ends of the posts are brought into regis binder.

tering relation with the notches 10" of the tubular flange 10. In this position the ends of the hooked portions are brought into alinement with the eyes of theosts so that in the endwise movement of t e fastening members the ends'thereof pass through the eyes and into the open ends of the tubular flange beyond, thus providin hinges or pins upon which the free ends 0 the posts may turn in the opening and closing of the lit is to be observed that the end portions of the hook are thus held within the slots 10" and are guided into and out of locking position, thereby afiording a rigid and secure locking device.

The means for actuating the fastening" members comprise a flat endwise movable bar mounted between the plates 8 and 9. and held from lateral displacement by guides 16 struck up from the metal of the bearing plate 8. Along the inner edge of the till I 'ceive the rounded ends 13" of the fastening,

strip 15 are provided notches 17, which re- @members 13 so that the shifting of the bar -endwise actuates the fastening members into decking and releasin ,W se movement of t e strip is limited by positions. The endnewer? longitudinal slots 15 through which pass the rivets 10, connecting the top and bottom plates 8 and 9. I

Several means may ually operating the strip or sliding bar 15, dependln' largely on choice or the particular style of inder.

be adopted for man- In Fig. 1 a key-operated actuating mechanism is shown which consists of a short lever 18 pivoted to the bearing plate adjacent the inner edge of the bar 15 and engaging a substantially semi-circular cam recess 19' therein. from the edge of the bar and on opposite sides of the lever 18 are stop members 20, 20, acting to limit the-movement of the lever, and to stop the same in its extreme positions substantially parallel to the bar and in abutting contact with the ends of the recess 19. Thus in the extreme positions the lever serves as a lock, preventin movement of the bar other than by manipulation of the lever. At the pivotedend of the lever is a square head 21 facing upwardl and adapted to receive a key 22 (Fig. all having a square socket 22*. In the cover plate an opening (not shown) is rovided to receive the key, access being ha thereto from the inside of the top cover 1.

A modification of the key actuated operat ing lever is shown in Fig; 5, wherein a similar form of lever 23 is used, but in place of a key-engaging head, a projection or lug 24 is provide at the free end of the lever. This lug extends through a semi-circular slot 25 formed in the top plate 9 and substantially flush with the inside cover surface. This lug is adapted to be pushed from side to side. by the finger or thumb-nail, and ofiers a simple and satisfactory method of operation where the degree of security is not required, as would recommend the movable key -operated form.

A still difl'erent form of operating device, and perhaps a simpler form, is the provision of an up-turned finger 26 (Fig. 6) at one. end ofthe bar, this bein provided by extendin the bar at one en yond t e casin 7, and bending the end at right angles. vided in the cover 1, nearthe edge, in which the finger may move.

Manifestly, any one of the methods and means may be'used for operating the bar,

Spaced a short distance] through and bedepression 27 may be pro- F L13) which in turn actuates the locking members simultaneously. Furthermore, the complete locking mechanism may be duplicated at both sides of the binder, thus permitting the removal of the leaves from front or back.

Among the advantages of a binder constructed as herein set forth may be mentioned the simplicity of structure and ease of o oration. A. further advantage resides in t e concealment of the parts, not only W h n th covers, but the positioning of the a the ends of said binding posts, 'andkmeans 7 and means for operating devices on the inside of the covers, thereby making it possible to introduce the loose-leaf arrangement. in minute-books,

diaries, and records having the more elabor ate and expensive bindings, without the presence of unsightly parts to detract from the appearance.

The various details of design and struc-- ture herein disclosed may be variously modified without departin from the spirit of the invention, and there ore I do not wish to be limited except in so far as the invention is defined in the appendedclaimsz- 1. A loose-leaf binder comprising hinged covers and a back, binding posts anchored in one of the cover members, a lock casing engagement with the free ends of said posts, guidingthe post engaging portions of said locking members into and out of locking engagement with said posts.

A loose-leaf binder comprising hinged covers and a back, binding posts mounted on one of said. covers and having eyes formed at their free ends, a casing mounted on'the other cover and comprising a plate having, a tubular marginal flange extending beyond the hinged edge thereof, locking hooks pivoted'on said plate and engaging slots formed in said flange, there being formed notches in said flange engaging the ends of said posts in locked'position.

4. A loose-leaf binder comprising hinged covers and a back, binding posts mounted onipne cover, a casing embedded in the other cover and extending along the hinged edge thereof, locking hooks pivotally mounted in said casing, the hooked ends thereof extending from said casing for engagement with for guiding said hooks into locking engagement with said binding posts.

5. A loose-leaf binder comprising hinged covers and a back, binding posts secured in one cover, a casing secured to the other .cover and provided with-a tubular flange extending beyond the hinged edge of said last mentioned cover, locking hooks'pivotally mounted in said casing and adapted for engagement with the free ends of said binding posts, said flange being provided with notches to receive the ends of said'posts' and longitudinal slots adjacent said notches for supporting the post engaging portions of said locking "members.

6. A loose-leaf binder. comprising hinged covers and a back, binding posts secured to one cover, a plate extending along the members pivotally mounted on said plate and having hooked extremities adapted to engage eyes in the free ends of said posts, a bar slidable longitudinally of said plate locking members, a flange integral with said plate and having notches to receive the ends of said binding posts, and means for guid ing the locking members into the eyes of said posts. 1

7. A loose-leaf binder comprising covers and back hinged together, binding posts mounted on one cover, a casing extending along the hinged edge of the other cover '76 --and having operative connection with said consisting of a base plate having a tubular flange extending beyond the edge of the cover, hooked fasteningmem'bers pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on said plate and'having transverse end portionsadapted to engage eyes in the free ends of said bindingposts, said tubularflange being provided with notches therein to receive the ends of said posts, and slotsextending longitudinally from said notches-acting as a guide for the end portions of said fastening members, a barrslidably mounted in said casing and 'operatively connected with said fastening members, andmeans for actuating said bar from the exteriorof said casing.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22nd day of May, A. D., 1922.

" JOSEPHKAHN.

70,] hinged edge of the other cover, locking 

